Increased access to contraception not linked to decrease in numbers of unplanned pregnancies, abortions

The belief that increased access to contraception will "reduce rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion" has "intuitive appeal, but the data prove otherwise," Susan Wills, associate director for education for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, writes in a Washington Post letter to the editor in response to a Post opinion piece by William Saletan, science and technology reporter for Slate magazine.

According to Wills, CDC data indicates that contraceptive use is "virtually universal among women of reproductive age."

The "problem" is that condoms and oral contraceptives "with typical use" have a 12-month pregnancy risk of 15% and 9%, respectively, Wills writes.

In addition, studies conducted in California, Washington state, Scotland, England, Sweden and China "show no reduction in pregnancy or abortion rates despite increased availability of contraception or emergency contraception," Wills concludes (Wills, Washington Post, 10/21).